Curtain-stretcher and clothes-drier.



No, 879,004. PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

I o. B. RICE. CURTAIN STRETGHER AND CLOTHES DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16. 1907- .5? Fig.6.

Envenl'm:

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THE NORRIS a. WASHINGTON, u c.

CHARLES E. RICE, OF LIVERMORE, KENTUCKY.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER AND CLOTHES-DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1908.

Application filed February 16. 1907- Serial No. 357,740.

description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similarview showing the hinged arms in folded position. Fig. 3 is across-section on. a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the hingedconnection of the center bar sections. Fig. 5 is a side view of thedevice with the hinged arms folded and the drier turned against andsecured to the ceiling. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are further detail views.

The invention has relation to suspended driers for curtains and clothes,and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, ashereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letter a,designates the main or center bar of the frame, which is provided at itsupper end with a swivel hook a, and its lower end with a screw eye (LThis bar is usually octagonal in cross section, and is provided with aseries of transverse holes or perforations b, ,for the reception of thearm rods 0, which thus extend upon opposite sides of the center bar andhave rigid or fixed connection therewith. These arm rods are provided attheir ends with small eyes (1, through which a strong cord or wire 0, ispassed, such cord or wire being connected to the top of the bar a, andserving to bind the arm rods to each other and thereby to strengthen therack frame in such a manner that it will sustain articles ofconsiderable weight upon its arms. To the front and rear surfaces of themain bar a, are pivoted, preferably by stop hinges f, the arms f, whichare designed preferably to be folded upward against said bar when not inuse. These arms 1, are also provided with eyes at their ends to providefor the passage of a tie cord g, which is connected to the top of themain bar and to the ends of the arms. When these arms are folded againstthe main bar they are held in that position by means of a hook h,engaging the screw eyes in the ends of the arms or by any other suitablefastening device. When it is desired to use the arms f, they are allowedto fall from folded position, so that they will extend at right anglesto the main bar, in which position they will be sustained by means ofthe stop hinges and the tie cord 9.

The rack is designed to be suspended from aneye t, in the ceiling of thekitchen. Or from an overhead beam or bar, in which a staple may besecured for the attachment of the swivel catch at the upper end of themain bar. In its suspended position it will serve to hold all theclothes or other articles which may be hung upon its arms. It may bestayed from swinging by means of a cord m, attached to the eye in thelower end of the main bar, and secured to a second eye in the floor. Theswivel hook a, whereby it is connected to the screw eye in the ceilingallows it to be turned around freely in placing upon its arms theclothes to be dried, or in turning different portions to the fire.

In using the rack to dry curtains the front and rear arms are designedto be folded up against the main bar, where they may be held by the hookit. These arms are also folded up against the main bar when the rack isto be put away, so that it will occupy but little room in a corner oragainst the wall. Or the rack may be raised towards the ceiling andsecured parallel thereto by a hook a The center bar a, may be made intwo sections hinged together at y, and adapted to be held in line byhook and eye y, whereby folding for shipment or storage is provided for.The binding cords or wires 9 may have knots 9 formed therein below thedrier arms, or below the eyes at the ends of such arms. The hinged armsf, have a location upon the center bar intermediately of the fixed arms,such hinged arms having. a length less than the distancesseparating thesame, the uppermost fixed arms being located above the uppermost hingedarms, and the uppermost hinged arms havinga length less than the portionof the center bar and the suspension device above the same. Thus thehinged arms having been folded to lie closely against the center bar andsecured in such position by the hook h, engaging the eye or staple h, ofthe uppermost hinged arms, a curtain may be stretched across the entireframing formed by the opposite fixed radial arms and their binding wireor string.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A clothes drier and curtain stretcher combined, including a centerbar-having a suspension device at its upper end, a series of radial armshaving fixed connection with the center bar and extending upon oppositesides thereof, a series of radial arms having hinged connection with thecenter bar, adapted to fold closely thereto and extending upon oppositesides thereof at right angles to the fixed radial arms, the hinged armshaving lengths less than the distances separating the same a bindingstring connecting the outer ends of the fixed radial arms, and means forretaining the hinged radial arms in folded position.

2. In a clothes drier and curtain stretcher combined, a center barhaving a suspension device at its upper end, a series of radial armshaving fixed connection with the eeri ter bar, and extending uponopposite sides thereof, a series of radial arms having hinged connectionwith the center bar, extending upon opposite sides thereof at rightangles to the fixed arms and having a location upon the center barintermediately of the fixed arms, such hinged arms having lengths lessthan the distances separating the same, the uppermost fixed arms beinglocated above the uppermost hinged arms, and the uppermost hinged armshaving a length less than the portion of the center bar and thesuspension device above the same, and a binding string connecting theouter ends of CHARLES E. RICE.

Witnesses:

' GEO. W. S. PARRIsH, HENRY S. PARRlSI-I.

